New
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Lesson 9 of 12
  • Year 8

Steel cities: Tangshan and Sheffield

I can compare how the cities of Tangshan and Sheffield have changed over time.

Lesson 9 of 12
New
New
  • Year 8

Steel cities: Tangshan and Sheffield

I can compare how the cities of Tangshan and Sheffield have changed over time.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The changing global economy can lead to radical changes in cities.
  2. Sheffield was once a global centre of steel, but has now transitioned to a post-industrial economy.
  3. Tangshan is a major steelmaking city in modern China.
  4. Industrial activities shape the landscape, environment, and identity of cities.

Keywords

  • Industry - the business of turning raw materials into finished products usually in factories

  • Globalisation - the interconnection of countries worldwide, over time, through trade and industry

  • Post-industrial - term used to describe a city after it has changed from being centre of manufacturing to a place where most people work in services

Common misconception

All industrial cities decline once their factories close.

Some cities, like Sheffield, adapt by developing new industries, services, and cultural attractions after industrial decline.


To help you plan your year 8 geography lesson on: Steel cities: Tangshan and Sheffield, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Encourage students to make links between the cities and their local area—for example, ask if any local industries have changed over time, or if old factory buildings have been repurposed. This helps them see industrial change as something real and relevant.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to their definitions:

Correct Answer:Urban,An area where lots of people live and work (e.g. a city)

An area where lots of people live and work (e.g. a city)

Correct Answer:Quality of life,How happy, healthy, and comfortable people are in a place

How happy, healthy, and comfortable people are in a place

Correct Answer:Population density,The number of people living in a given area

The number of people living in a given area

Q2.
What is meant by “urban”?

A quiet farming village
A forested natural region
Correct answer: A built-up area with homes, businesses and roads
A small island with few people

Q3.
Which of these is an example of a city with high population density?

A small rural village
Correct answer: A central neighbourhood in Tokyo
A mountain resort
A national park

Q4.
Why might quality of life be low in some city areas?

Correct answer: Overcrowding and poor housing
Good schools and clean air
Quiet streets and low traffic
Plenty of green space

Q5.
Which of these best addresses the idea that “all cities offer a high quality of life”?

Correct answer: Cities vary – some areas are wealthier and safer than others
Cities are all designed by the same people
Every city has the same number of hospitals
All cities are in developed countries

Q6.
Which is most likely to affect daily life in cities?

Distance from the sea
Number of volcanoes nearby
Correct answer: Traffic and public transport access
Number of farms

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to their definitions:

Correct Answer:Industry,Making products from raw materials, usually in factories

Making products from raw materials, usually in factories

Correct Answer:Globalisation,Worldwide connections formed through trade and industry

Worldwide connections formed through trade and industry

Correct Answer:Post-industrial,Describes a city that has moved from factories to mainly service jobs

Describes a city that has moved from factories to mainly service jobs

Q2.
Which of these is an example of globalisation?

A local food shop selling only home-grown vegetables
Correct answer: Steel from China being used in UK construction
Farming vegetables in a rural village
Walking to work in a small town

Q3.
What happened to cities like Sheffield after factories closed?

Everyone moved away permanently
Correct answer: The city adapted with new services and industries
It became a farming village
It remained exactly the same

Q4.
Which of the following best challenges the idea that “all industrial cities decline once their factories close”?

Most cities cannot survive without factories
Cities never close their factories
Cities don’t need services to survive
Correct answer: Some cities grow again by creating new types of jobs